The Courier News from Blytheville, Arkansas · Page 1

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COURIER NEWS VOt. 63—NO. 39 BLYTHBVILLB, ARKANSAS (72815) MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1968 12 PAGES 10 CENTS Top State Demo Figures Will be Here Tomorrow More than 400 people, including Arkansas' leading Democratic party figures, will be in Blytheville tomorrow for a Dem-, ocratic party fund - raising din-, ner, which will be highlighted bv the annearance of Secretary of Agriculture Orville Freeman. "Everything's set. It looks as if we're going to have a fine crowd and a real successful dinner," County Democratic Central Committee Chairman W. J. Wunderlicli commented this morning. Wunderlich is particularly anxious that the public drop by and meet various candidates •who will be at Holiday Inn's banquet room from 2:30 until 6 p.m. tomorrow. "All-six Democratic congressional candidates will be there as .well as some more." Due in town also are such state political figures as Frank Whitbeck and Marion Crank, Democratic candidates for governor; Julian James, Jonesboro man who is a candidate for lieutenant governor, and Frank Holt, candidate for the Arkansas supreme court. The party's power structure will be here, too. For example, W. R. Stephens, president of Arkansas - Louisiana Gas Co., and a leading Democrat for years, is expected to fly into town tomorrow. "He'll be bringing some people with him, but right now I don't know who," Wunderlich reported. Leon Catlett, chairman of the Wants Indian Back ST. LOUIS AP) — A tobacco and cigar company in St. Louis is offering a reward for the return of its wooden Indian. / Somebody threw ah old tire through a window Saturday and •took the seven-foot Indian and its feathered he'adress. Police said the owner placed the Indians' value at $1,200. state central committee, will be here with members of the committee. i "Secretary Freeman seems anxious to meet with Catlett and members of the state committee," .Wunderlich said. "I imagine they are interested in how the delegation is going to vote in convention." F r e e m a n has publicly endorsed the candidacy of Vice President Hubert Humphrey. Tom Harper, a delegate to the national convention, also is due to be present. Of the Arkansas congressional delegation, only Congressman E. C. (Took) Gathings ! of the First Congressional District, will be present. "Senator McClellan has to be in Washington because an anti- crime bill is to be introduced on the floor of the Senate. Senator Fulbright is tied up in Washington/too." Freeman is to arrive at Bly- theville Air Force Base around 4 p.m. tomorrow. Following a press conference, he'll meet with a delegation of farmers, prior to conferring with Catlelt and state-level party leaders. Freeman is due to depart BAFB around 9 p.m. The dinner, in the vacant building at Chickasawba and Third (Railroad Street)* begins at 6:30. Fire Kills Stepmother Of Amelia Earhart LOS ANGELES AP) - The stepmother of Amelia Earhart has died in a fire that engulfed her small, wooden shack here. Ann Earhart, 85, died Satur- .day in the 20-by-20 foot shack on land once owned by her stepdaughter, the aviation pioneer who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic and who disappeared July 2, 1937 over the South Pacific. FORCING THE ISSUE - These pint-size adversa- ion for men and women and the junior division for chit nes were two of the approximately 90 participants in dren under 17. The judo program is SDonsorPri ioinfv • the Northeast Arkansas Judo Tournament beU last Sat- by the Y and BlythevilSe Krc Base and tff- urday nrornmg at the YMCA. Major Caldwell, Y direc- ment competition of this type will hopefully become tor, said 32 trophys were awarded to winners in the an annual spring affair, Caldwell said (Courier N«i« ...... <-«aweu saw. (courier New* various competitions. The contests included adult divis- Photo) A Shau Thrust Hits Pay Dirt' By ROBERT TUCKMAN Associated Press Writer SAIGON 'AP) - A big U.S. force that plunged by helicopter into what its commander called "real paydirt" has found at least one enemy camp and supplies in the A Shau Valley, but the enemy troops scattered before the invaders. . The 10-day-old offensive, not announced until Sunday night, continues under a security blackout. Correspondents with the troops were permitted to report only actions in the first three days of the assault. The helicopters swarmed in April 19 carrying thousands of U.S. 1st Air Cavalry Division f -troopers - and .^equipment into what has been a North Vietnamese stronghold for two years. Enemy guns brought down or damaged 30 of the choppers. . _ "Hell, I've never lost that many in weeks and weeks," said Maj. Gen. John J. Tolson, commander of the Flying Horsemen. "By far it's the hottest place we've ever : gone into ... The old opponent gave me a big bad day." WELCOME BACK-Mayor Tom A. tltlte Jr. li back In his office at City Hall ready to maintain a "fairly regular schedule " Little-who was felled by a Feb. 21 heart attack-expressed his appreciation for "the hundreds of cards," prayers and best Wishes he received during his convalescent:*. (Courier NewsPlwto) The U.S. Command said the operation, called Delaware, was a "reconnaissance in force," indicating that the American force would smash the staging areas and supply lines and then pull out. South Vietnamese paratroopers formed 'a blocking force at the valley's exit toward Hue. Despite the heavy antiaircrf|'t fire, casualties on both sides were reported relatively light in the first three days, with fewer than 5 North Vietnamese and 20 Americans killed. Sixteen U.S. helicopter crewmen were wounded. After the landing, Pfc. Jimmy R. Rose of Smithfield, N.C., and Sgt. Hillary Craig of Winter Park, Fla., followed a communications wire to a 30-building enemy camp evacuated so quickly that laundry still was hanging on lines. The American troops found dozens- of 50-gallon drums of gasoline, four Russian trucks, 300 Chinese automatic rifles still in crates, hundreds of artillery and antiaircraft rounds, a ton of rice and 100 Russian mine detectors; The 25-mile-long valley near the Laotian border and southwest of Hue, has been a staging point for North Vietnamese troops since they overran a U.S. Special Forces camp in it two years ago. "This is one of the most important pieces,of real estate the enemy has," said Gen. Tolson. He said he believes some of the enemy antiaircraft guns— 37mms that can hit aircraft at 10,000 feet—are radar-guided. Some of the American helicopters were hit at 6,00 feet. Despite the losses, ''the operation so far has been highly suc- cessful," Tolson said. "We hold the key terrain." Enemy troops in the valley are believed to be mostly s<p- port units such as transportation and engineer companies, and ground fighting was reported light in the early stages. Just north of Hue, U.S. 101st Airborne Division troops clashed for the second straight day Sunday with North Viet- 'namese. in the "Street Without Joy," a coastal strip that'was the scene of French defeats in the Indochina-war. No casualty figures were immediately available as the Americans advanced . in armored personnel carriers against heavy enemy fire from a fortified village. More than 200 North Vietnamese troops were believed holed up there. American B52 bombers, which had pounded the A Shau Valley for weeks to pave the way for the invasion, kept up raids on targets around Saigon in the wake of warnings that the capital may come under another Viet Cong attack. -The eight-engine Stratofortresses also aimed at enemy troops menacing" the U.S. base at. Bien Hoa, about 15 miles northeast of Saigon. Over • North Vietnam, the deepest penetration by U.S. fighter-bombers Sunday was a raid against a bridge 12 miles below the 19th parallel. For the second straight day, sources said, Air Force Fills did not fly in the raids. The $6 million, swing-wing planes had flown in combat Friday for the first time since a third Fill was lost last Monday. The U.S. Command announced that two Navy planes were lost during Sunday's strikes but two of the three crewmen were rescued; . April 29 SPENCER BUNCH, 75, died Saturday, in the Chickasawba Hospital. . : • A lifetime 'resident of the area, he was born .in Yarbro, and was a retired businessman and farmer. He was a veteran of World War I, a member of the American Legion and belonged to the East Side Church of Christ. •;•••. In addition to his wife, Mrs. Minnie Lee Bunch of Blytheville, he leaves one daughter, Mrs. Luverl Gaines of Blytheville; ... One brother, Huey Bunch of Blytheville;. Two sisters, Mrs. T. R. Ivy and Mrs. Herbert Mullins,' both of Blytheville; • And.one granddaughter: Funeral services were at 2 p.m. today in the Cobb Funeral Home chapel, Mr. Harold Trimble officiating, with burial in Elinwood Cemetery. Pallbearers -were Sam Lewers, Harold Sudbury, Hardy Gray, James Wagster, Frank Blue, Robbie Cox and J. W. Newman. A REMEDIAL SUMMER SCHOOL program will begin June 10 at Luxora and will run for six weeks. (See additional story on Page Two.) ' • " . BLYTHEVILLE TEENAGERS have one more week to enter the Safe Driving Road-E-0 to be held May 5 in Jhe parking lot at the corner ,of Second and Chickasawba, according to Jimmy Austin, co-chairman of the Jaycee sponsored contest. Entry forms, which are available at both high schools and at Littrell-Ozier Ford Company, should be completed and returned to Littrell-Ozier by May 4, Austin said. Gift certificates for merchandise donated by local merchants will be awarded to the top fcur teenage contest winners, Austin said. COTTON PROMOTION MATERIALS to be used by Blytheville merchants in their window displays during Cotton Promotion Week, May 13 through May 18, are available at the Chamber of Commerce, according to Perry Rothrock, chairman of the C of C Retail Merchants Division. . • Cotton corsages may be picked,up at the Chamber office approximately May 7 and will be made available, to businessmen who wish to distribute them to their women employes, Rothrock said. FRED MARSHALL of Hot! Springs, father of Nathan Marshall of here, died -Saturday. He also leaves his wife and two other sons, Henry and Fred Marshall. Caruth Funeral Home in Hot Springs is in charge of arrangements., • •. Cops Kept On Move A rash of. crimes kept the Blytheville Police Department on the -move during the weekend, police officials reported. Linda Joyce Housewright, 19; of 814 Robindale was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon after she allegedly stabbed Jerry Troup, 28, of Blytheville in the chest with a paring knife Police Chief George Ford said today. Police were called to the scene about noon yesterday and Troup was rushed to Chickasawba, Hospital. His condition could not be determined by press time today. Miss Housewright is now free on $250 bond, Ford said. * * i Friday night, burglars entered the Delta Spindle Company on West Highway 18, stealing 120 pounds of brass bushings, authorities said. The thieves gained entrance to the building through a window which they shattered, police said. The burglary was reported Saturday morning and is still under investigation, Ford said. A new 1968 Chevrolet was stolen from the parking lot of Bob Sullivan Chevrolet Company sometime Saturday night, police reported. Yesterday afternoon the vehicle was recovered at Rector, Ark., authorities said, but the thieves had stripped the auto, taking the'engine, transmission, hood, and two front tires. ». * * Polce picked irp a 33-year- old Memphis man Saturday for questioning and he has been turned over to the Pemiscbt County Sheriff's office in Caruthersville, Mo., as a suspect in a burglary there, Poilce Chief George Ford said. * * * Counterfeiters struck again over the weekend, passing three bogus $10, with the serial numbers F-02152448 a and F-78462607 C, authorities reported. The bills are 1963 series federal reserve notes, drawn on the federal reserve bank in Atlanta, Ga., and can best be identified as counterfeits by.ob- See POLICE on Page 2 Ted Boswell Enters Governors Race r ; LITTLE ROCK (AP) - Ted Boswell of Bryant, a reform,minded lawyer, announced today he planned to run for the" Democratic nomination for governor. Boswell, 35, called a news conference to disclose his plans. He had said Saturday that either he or another person committed to reform would.run for .governor. - Boswell, a former law partner of Atty. Gen. Joe Purcell, has made speeches across the state in support of a constitutional convention. ... He also is an advocate of abolishing capital punishment and helped Rep. Gladys Martin Oglesby of Stamps in her effort to push a bill through the 1967 General Assembly that™ •would do away with the death penalty. The bill failed. HH Mast Entice Potitkos Off Fence By JACK BELL AP Political Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey's toughest assignment as an active candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination apparently will be to entice party leaders off the political fence. Humphrey picked up sonw fresh endorsements with his formal entry Saturday into the con•test against Sens. Robert F. Kennedy, D-N.Y., and Eugem J. McCarthy, D-Mlnn. But party leaders in wing states whose support he needs to assemble the 1,312 convention votes required for the nomination didn't budge from the neutral position they have taken since President Johnson announced March 31 he: would not accept renomination. In Michigan, for example, Sen. Philip A. Hart .said in an interview he hasn't been able to make'tip his mind;«s between Kennedy, McCarthy 'and Humphrey. Hart said he thinks sentiment is split in Michigan where the bulk «E tin fevotft (Mention j« chosen in district contests and the remainder at a state convention in June. He said he thinks about one- fourth of the delegates will represent organized labor. AFL- CIO President George Meany is supporting Humphrey. Walter Reuther, head of the United Auto Workers, has remained silent. Hart said he knows one close Reuther adviser who is for Kennedy and another who is for McCarthy; , In Humphrey's natlv* state ol >, South Dakota, Sen. George McGov«ro hu welcomed to« vice president into the race but has declared his own neutrality. Similarly, Senate Democratic Leader Mike Mansfield of Montana and Sen. Warren G. Mag. .nusori of Washington are avoiding taking sides. Sen. Edmund S. Muskie of Maine, who heads the. Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, is taking th« favorite-son route to stay uncommitted, ' In Iowa, Gov. Harold Hughes, who is believed to lean toward Kennedy, said Humphrey has "strong, broad-based support'^ •mong labor, farm and buslnesi groups. But he said he will wait until after the May 24-25 state convention before backing ' a candidate: The Humphrey announcement See COUNTY on page I miiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiininiuiiiiw Weather Forecast Clear to partly cloudy tonight and a little cooler most Motions. Tueday fair, and mild. Low tonight mostly in the 4M north te 60s elsewhere. * K